Interview with Jo Huddleston

Good morning, ladies! Let’s give a warm Heart”wings” welcome to Jo Huddleston. She’s stopped by to share some information on her latest release, Tidewater Summer. Here’s the back cover copy:

“Will Rose find the solitude she seeks during her island summer or is solitude what she really wants?

A compelling story of one woman’s pursuit of restoration from physical abuse at the hands of her fiancé. Rose Marie Henley’s Great-Aunt Clara convinces Rose to spend the summer at her South Carolina beach house.Aunt Clara’s handyman sends his nephew to repair Rose’s water heater. Last year Rose would have been excited to see his over-the-top handsome nephew, Frank Sutton. But now she doesn’t want any man in her life again.

Frank has an instant attraction to Rose. Can he break through her defenses? He’ll do anything to protect her, but will she open her heart to trust him?”

Jo Huddleston is an Amazon Bestselling author of books, articles, and short stories. Novels in her West Virginia Mountains series and her Caney Creek series are sweet Southern historical romances. Her novels are endorsed by Amanda Cabot, Lillian Duncan, Cara Lynn James, Sharlene MacLaren, and Ann Tatlock. The redeeming story of God’s pursuing love is the foundation of her novels, and in them you will find inspiration, hope, and gentle stories that are intriguing and entertaining. Jo is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN). You can find Ms. Huddleston on her Website, Inspirational Blog, Facebook Author Page, Amazon author page, Goodreads, and signup for her Newsletter.

Now on to the interview!! My questions will be in BOLD and Ms. Huddleston’s responses will be in blue.

Thank you so much for stopping by Heart”wings.” For the reader who aren’t familiar about your work, please tell them about your writing.

My writing began when I published articles, short stories, and devotions in denominational magazines, the first appearing in Mature Living. I’ve had more than 200 articles and short stories published in over 50 well-known Christian and secular publications including Guideposts, Decision, and The Upper Room. I’m an online contributor to Christian Devotions Ministries (www.ChristianDevotions.us). My devotions appear in eight anthologies and I’ve written devotions on assignment and freelance for the following daily devotionals: Devotions, Open Windows, Pathways to God, The Quiet Hour, The Secret Place, and The Upper Room. I wrote an inspirational newspaper column for seven years.

I began writing novel-length fiction in 2008, and have traditionally published sweet Southern historical (1950s) romance novels in the West Virginia Mountains series and the endearing Caney Creek series. My first novella, Donna’s Detour, was published this year and my latest release is a full-length novel, Tidewater Summer.

Tidewater Summer deals with a difficult subject: abuse. What inspired you to write about this topic?

I’ve loved being at the beach—any beach—since the first time my parents took me when I was preschool age. Time at the beach always makes my troubles lighten while there. I wanted to set a story on a beach and thought about a heroine who might go to the beach for restoration from whatever problem she had. I write novels set in the 1950s, so I came up with my heroine’s problem of physical abuse at the hands of her fiancé. In the 1950s, the attitude toward abuse was often to ignore it or to blame the victim. I started with the above and my characters grabbed the story and ran with it.

Was there a particular Scripture that you thought of while writing this novel?

While I wrote Tidewater Summer,and my heroine, Rose, confronted her abuse and fears, I drew strength from two scripture verses. Then, in turn, Rose brought one of these verses into her pursuit of restoration and it helped her to draw closer to God. I would hope readers of this novel will identify with Rose and also see the need to draw closer to God and friends when struggling with any problems. (The two verses are: Galatians 6:2 and Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Out of all of your books, what has been your favorite one to write thus far?

I’ve enjoyed writing all my books. I suspect I consider each of my current books my favorite one while I’m writing it. Spending months or sometimes years writing a story and coming to know the characters like family, makes each story an integral part of my life. I will say that my favorite character is probably the heroine, Emmajean, in Beyond the Past, Book #2 of the Caney Creek Series. In the novel, Emmajean comes closer to God, speaks her mind with no pretense, and is determined in her every endeavor.

As a Christian writer, how does your faith spill into your writing?

My faith in God works its way into all my stories. As my bio says, the redeeming story of God’s pursuing love is the foundation of my novels. Sometimes I don’t recognize it until I’ve finished a book, but my books always contain a spiritual takeaway that readers can apply to their lives.

How about some fun questions? Tea or coffee?

Decaf coffee (doctor’s orders)

Spring or Fall?

Fall

Cats or Dogs?

Dogs

Books or movies?

Read the book first, then see the movie.

Woohoo! I’m the same way. 🙂 Thank you so much for joining us today!

Readers, she’s offering to give away a FREE eBook copy of Tidewater Summer. To enter, leave a comment with your favorite Scripture by Friday, November 25th, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be picked Saturday, November 26th.

Toni Shiloh

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an Air Force veteran, and a member of the body of Christ.
She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She likes to volunteer at her children’s school. When she’s not writing, she’s reading. An avid reader of Christian fiction, she writes reviews on her blog and enjoys helping other authors find readers.
She self-published a Christian contemporary romance novella, A Life to Live, and is at work writing her next novel.